Gucci ‘Designer Cars’ Hit the Road

Designer shoes sound appealing, as do designer handbags, eyeglasses and even interior paint. But what about designer cars? For some drivers the idea may hark back to the Disco era of the 1970s, when designers like Bill Blass and Givenchy put their names on kitschy Lincoln Continentals.

But according to Italian car maker Fiat, shoppers are clamoring for them.

The company is bringing back the Gucci edition of the 500, or Cinquecento, a subcompact car designed to compete with the BMW Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Beetle and other small, stylish “statement” vehicles. The move, Fiat said, “brings two of Italy’s most respected brands together for an encore.”

Fiat previously rolled out the Gucci model in 2011, shortly after the introduction of the 500 model, which was new to the U.S. market.

The 2013 Gucci versions of the 500 and 500 convertible come with a black leather interior meant to complement or contrast with the available glossy black or white exterior colors. Hand stitching, embroidery, chrome accents, and leather trim with the signature “Guccissima” pattern. There are also flashier black and white two-tone interiors available.

On the outside, the new Gucci edition models have the brand’s familiar red and green side stripes. Chrome “Gucci” script, body-color wheels and wheel center caps with the interlocking “GG” logo also set the special model apart from garden-variety 500s.

The new Gucci Edition models arrive shortly in dealerships with starting prices of $23,750 for the hard-top model and $27,750 for the convertible. The standard 500 starts at $16,000.

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